The pharmacology of the rat ureter in vivo

Abstract

Summary1. A method of recording the peristaltic frequency and the rate of transport of fluid (perfusion rate) in the rat ureter in viva is described. 2. Acetylcholine and atropine did not alter ureteral activity. Histamine increased the rate of peristalsis by up to 15% and the rate of perfusion by up to 10%. Low doses of 5-hydroxytryptamine increased peristaltic frequency whereas high doses decreased peristaltic frequency; all doses reduced the rate of perfusion. 3. Morphine reduced the rate of perfusion by 5-10% at all dose levels, but only the highest dose used reduced the frequency of ureteral peristalsis. 4. (-)-Adrenaline, (-)-noradrenaline and (±)-isoprenaline reduced the frequency of peristalsis. The order of potency was isoprenaline>noradrenaline> adrenaline. The response was dose-related and blocked by propranolol, which itself did not affect ureteral activity.

Evidence for the presence of α1 adrenoceptor subtypes in the human ureter

“…Data obtained both from animals and humans indicate that a and b ARs are present in the ureter, with opposing e¡ects on the ureteral smooth muscle contraction [Deane, 1967;Malin et al, 1970;Ancill et al, 1972;Weiss et al, 1978;Hernandez et al, 1992;Rivera et al, 1992;Morita et al, 1994;Lee et al, 1998;Park et al, 2000]. It has been shown that b agonist isoprenaline relaxes ureteral smooth muscles, while the non selective agonist noradrenaline increases the muscle tone and the ureteral peristaltic frequency, indicating that the a 1 AR-mediated contractile activity seems to prevail over the relaxing e¡ects induced by the b AR stimulation [Weiss et al, 1978].…”

“…Several studies have also addressed the role of ARs in the upper tract of the urinary system and, in particular, a number of papers have sustained the role of a 1 ARs in the ureteral physiology, both in animals and humans [Deane, 1967;Malin et al, 1970;Ancill et al, 1972;Weiss et al, 1978;Hernandez et al, 1992;Rivera et al, 1992;Morita et al, 1994;Lee et al, 1998;Park et al, 2000]. However, few studies have been made to identify a 1 AR subtypes present in the human ureter.To our knowledge, there is only one report, although with con£icting results, indicating that a 1A AR and a 1D AR mRNAs are present in the middle portion of the human ureter [Obara et al, 1996].…”

Effects of ketanserin and DOI on spontaneous and 5‐HT‐evoked peristalsis of the pig ureter in vivo

“…Other investigators have observed no effect of 5‐HT in ureter preparations in various species (Borgstedt et al ., 1966; Finberg & Peart, 1970). Ancill et al . (1972) found that low doses of 5‐HT increased peristaltic frequency whereas high doses decreased peristaltic frequency in the rat ureter in vivo .…”

“…In the in vitro studies, differences in harvesting, localization, storage, preparation or experimental design could explain the different effects reported. In the in vivo studies, small alterations in the renal pelvis can affect peristaltic activity in the ureter and the smooth muscle is particularly susceptible to physical interferences (Ancill et al ., 1972).…”

Actions of Some Autonomic Drugs on Spontaneous Contractions of Isolated Dog Ureter

“…However, in this study, under the presence of phentolamine, noradrenaline could abolish the spontaneous contraction, suggesting that in the dog ureters noradrenaline can considerably stimulate P-adrenoceptors. Indeed, A n d l et al [1] have reported that the order of potency which reduced the frequency of the rat ureteral peristalsis was isoprenaline > noradrena line > adrenaline. Moreover, the present data showed that both noradrenaline and adrenaline increased fre quency more markedly than tension, meaning that pace making properties of ureteral smooth muscles may have higher sensitivity to exogenous catecholamines than the contractile properties.…”